Director Jovita P. Ayson said Region 2 posted 4M damage on fisheries in the provinces of Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya whose stocks escaped from the ponds.
“Stocks are in different stages, others are newly stocked, others are barely two to three months old while the rest are already marketable," Angel Encarnacion of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) said.
Although fish that escaped from ponds will still survive, will find their ways in the rivers and streams and will be an advantage for fishermen fishing in the rivers, they are considered losses on the part of the fishpond owners and operators.
A total of 35.5 hectares fishpond areas and some units of fish cages were affected and BFAR will provide five thousand fingerlings per hectare of damage ponds as typhoon assistance to affected fish farmers to replenish their lost stocks. The bureau’s fisheries production areas are now preparing for the fingerlings requirement of affected owners.
Ayson reiterated the need for the immediate submission of damage reports during calamities so that the bureau can estimate damages and to know who will be given rehabilitation assistance.
The province of Nueva Vizcaya listed the highest damage of Php 2.9 million followed by Quirino with Php 609,375.00 and Isabela with Php 581,812.00.
Meanwhile, the director reiterated the importance of the Fisherfolk Registration (FishR) project of the agency as this will be the basis in giving projects and assistance to fisherfolk in the region.
Registration for municipal fisherfolk is on-going in all municipalities in the region.
Ayson said information gathered will help the government identify priority programs and projects for fisherfolk organizations in the implementation of ecosystems-based projects in fisheries.
